Filming Locations:

Company:

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The film's source novelist Julia Leigh is also a writer-director herself, writing and directing Sleeping Beauty (2011), another Australian movie released in the same year as this film. Leigh however did not actually work on the screenplay nor direct this film.See more »

Goofs:

Continuity: As Martin is driving towards Jarrah's house there is a GPS located on the dashboard in front of him. When he turns on the road towards the house, the GPS is now located on the left side of the dashboard location were it was before.See more »

Opening (coincidentally) during the San Francisco International Film
Festival, "The Hunter" would fit right in among the 175 films being
shown there. This Australian film, filmed mostly in Tasmania, stars the
great character actor Willem Dafoe (in a rare leading role) as Martin
David, the title character. David is engaged by a multinational
corporation to track down the last surviving "Tasmanian Tiger" so that
they may have exclusive rights to its DNA. David must do this under the
noses of environmentalists trying to stop deforestation and the locals
whose jobs and livelihoods rely on it.

Masquerading as a scientist doing research, Martin finds himself
quartered at the house of a local activist's widow (Frances O'Connor)
and her two children (Morgana Davies and Finn Woodlock.) Slowly, he
finds himself entwined in their lives and finds a disturbing connection
between his current employer and the late activist. Martin's contact in
the community (Sam Neill) is wary of their growing relationship and
sets things in motion that will have a devastating impact on all
involved.

This is a beautiful, exciting film with nuanced performances from all
the players. Dafoe's character doesn't say much, but his cragged face
is as expressive a tool as his voice. Lengthy scenes are often
dialogue-free, letting the surroundings and Martin's actions speak for
themselves in a visual language. The juvenile performers are quite
good, and Sam Neill is a welcome presence in any film.

Part character study, part eco-thriller, the film does not beat you
over the head with its environmental message. It manages to present
somewhat of a balanced view of the debate between economy and
environment (at least with regards to the problems of the locals.
Multinational Corporations are ALWAYS evil.) PETA may take exception to
Martin's final actions with regards to his original assignment, but
after some thought they might be hard pressed to come up with any
better solution. It's the kind of film that leads to great discussion
and debate afterwards.

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